Saturday, January 21, 2012

The Chronicle: TOOWOOMBA businesses are set for a major boost this Easter after Bus Queensland and Easterfest combined to provide free public transport through the city.
It is the first time the Toowoomba bus network will be operating during the Easter weekend.
Easterfest city coordinator Drew Vallejos said the decision follows the success of last year's loop service when more than 2500 people travelled between Queens Park and Grand Central shopping centre.
"We have an opportunity to expand that service so the local economy can benefit," Mr Vallejos said.

Friday, January 13, 2012

Tallinn Offers Free Public Transportation to All Residents

Tallinn Mayor Edgar Savisaar said the city is willing to make public transportation free for its residents in 2013, if taxpayers support the idea in a poll from March 19 to 25.

Currently, pensioners and children of families with financial difficulties are granted free bus rides in Tallinn, reported Õhtuleht. "Free fares would be useful for others in economic hardship, who could instead use the ticket money for a better meal," said Savisaar.

A three-member family could save up 650 euros per year, the mayor said.

The reform would also popularize travel by bus and reduce the number of cars, congestion and traffic accidents, he added.

Greens' Safe Climate Bill

Travelling with a light footprint
Australia's cities and suburbs are increasingly being built around cars, not people, and more of our intercity travel and freight is going by road or air instead of rail. In a world where peak oil and climate change are converging, this has to change fast.
We have to redesign our cities for people instead of cars, with urban villages connected by fast, efficient and convenient buses, trams and trains, cycleways and pedestrian paths. We have to give ourselves real alternatives to flying between cities. We have to end the subsidies to fossil fuel based transport. We have to think a few steps into the future, instead of repeating the same old mistakes of the past. ReadMore [pdf]